How much do you live on per month?

kerri_gt

Lucy1010 wrote: »

:rotfl: Sorry I am rubbish, unless your name sounds girly I just assume you're a man!

April is looking horrific budget wise... 3 birthdays and Mothers day... Now will it be any cheaper to buy flowers on Fri rather than the weekend? I don't want to be cheap though, I love my Mum to bits.

What will you do?

awaytogoyet's idea is lovely, expanding on this you could perhaps look to make her a hanging basket for mother's day -they she can enjoy it throughout the summer.

If you are buying a bunch of flowers, I would suggest looking at a market stall if you have one in your town, I always find that they are much 'cheaper' than the supermarkets and often they will make up a bunch using the flowers you ask for.

chrisl-1410

Not enough is the answer lol
I try and budget but there is always something coming up that wipes out any savings i manage to make.

iwantahome

curlygirl1971 wrote: »

One of the best things I did whilst living with my parents (and saving up for a house) was also start to put aside a 'Yearly Expenditure fund'. However i was lucky - when I was saving up 10+ years ago I didn't need to save up nearly as big a depost as is required nowadays.

I worked out how much annual costs such as Insurances, Car MOT/Tax, Xmas Pressies....would all be and I made sure that I had the amount in an account before I moved. Thereafter I put away a monthly amount to pay for these annual expenses (for the next year). This amount is adjusted as certain things become cheaper/expensive. As time went by (and I could afford it) I added different things to this category ie. Replacing my specs, Dentist, Holiday, new-used car fund.........so now I put away a chunk every month but then when I pay for one of these items I have the money in an account ready. One-off payments are often cheaper than paying monthly.

Don't get me wrong - there have been plenty of months when I either couldn't afford the payment at all, couldn't afford it all, or had to raid the account

Best of luck!

Thanks that is a great idea. I will definitely work these costs out and try to get this on top of my deposit. I do try to pay for things annually where I can as I don't like to pay the interest they charge for paying monthly.

It has been a very difficult decision and process, for myself and for my parents (although they love it really). But it is not a decision I regret at all. I would still be in debt today had I rented instead.

The deposits people (including myself) have to have today are ridiculous. I understand where banks are coming from and why they are requesting such a large percentage. But I just wish the property market was more realistic in relation to peoples earnings. Things have got to take a drop soon with people losing jobs left right and centre and first times buyers being few and far between due to larger deposits being required.

Most of my friends bought houses/flats using the 100% mortgage deals of a few years ago, and so they find it difficult to recognise the amount of money I have to save, and how I can't just walk out of a bank with a mortgage offer and go house shopping within an hour like they did. :( I wish I could as my job is very good and I can easily make mortgage repayments but sadly this is not the case. So although I am debt free, I currently owe approximately 20-25k to an imaginary mortgage company before I even start.

curlygirl, I am quite a tough person really, I just want it to be safe so that my family feel better about me living alone and don't worry too much, and so that it is easier to sell on in the future. I also want to live somewhere that looks clean and doesn't have broken gates on every second house, smashed windows, and litter floating all around. :rotfl::rotfl: these types of places cost!!

caledonian_princess

Lucy1010 wrote: »

April is looking horrific budget wise... 3 birthdays and Mothers day... Now will it be any cheaper to buy flowers on Fri rather than the weekend? I don't want to be cheap though, I love my Mum to bits.

What will you do?

I don't buy my Mum flowers or a present for Mothers day but I always send a card. Then, at some random time during the year I send her flowers or chocolates just because I was thinking about her when I was in a shop, she likes this better than what she thinks of as "duty gifts" to be given on particular dates.

lost_soul_78

With 5 and a dog and dd2 in nappies I would say £100 per wk but am only half way saving EVERY reciept for the week,my budget is 100 but I am sure I exceed this more when I can't be bothered eg fishfingers and chips its actually cheaper to make a stew and tastier.

Gettingtherequickly

I don't know what to do for my mum for Mother's day this year. It is falling on what would have been my parents 50th wedding anniversary, sadly lost dad 12 years ago, so it will be difficult day for her. Oh well, will think about it.

maganan

Gettingtherequickly wrote: »

I don't know what to do for my mum for Mother's day this year. It is falling on what would have been my parents 50th wedding anniversary, sadly lost dad 12 years ago, so it will be difficult day for her. Oh well, will think about it.

How about getting a favourite photo of them both and coping it and framing it for her........don't know if you think it would be appropriate x

Lucy1010

Fantastic ideas ref flower arrangements for Mothers day, I will definitely do that, there is still plenty of time too, thanks OPs!

There is a lot of invaluable advice in this topic and I have started to implement some of it into my life. I have to say, without all of you I would not be feeling so positive. For those that have hardly anything to live on, I feel I cannot waste a single piece of bread or a drop of milk because after reading your stories, I now realise how it must feel to be so broke. I feel relatively fortunate compared to some and won't take anything for granted ever again.

I also feel very positive about being single again and am actually looking forward to taking control of my life and giving myself ME time. I feel really optimistic and it is purely down to you lovely people, you are just amazing.... you know who you are!

So thank you very much and I still want to know how much the rest of you live on per month so if you haven't shared, please do I miss my regulars so please say hi! Ani, where are you?! Souk, I've just discovered your diary so I am for a lil read!

kerri_gt

hi Lucy - it;s great to hear that you now have a more positive outlook on tackling your debts and where you are at in life in general. Sometimes this forum can be really good at giving a good old reality check - I guess it's because you get to 'meet' (albeit in a virtual sense) so many different people who you would not ordinarily cross paths with.

This thread has also inspired me to get back to my budgeting ways more next month - have fallen off the wagon a little recently - even with the NSD challenge not going too badly (fewer spendy days but more £ spent in some cases - not quite what I was aiming for).

Ani - hope you're ok too - not seen you on here for a bit. xx

catriona79

Lucy1010 wrote: »

OK so going back to an earlier post of mine re: having birthday lunches to attend but not having enough in my new budget...

It feels REALLY embarrassing to speak up when the bill arrives and it is split between so many of you and you end up paying £10 more than you ate. No one else seems to care but I find it very hard to say "Oh but mine only cost £10.00" when everyone else is quite happily putting £20 each on the table to split the total cost

I am so tempted not to go so that I don't have to put myself in that position. OR I could just order something a little more expensive and get value for my money but then again the bill could be much higher and I will still end up paying more

Why aren't people understanding enough to ask what everyone had and total it up that way instead of just splitting the bill equally ....:(

Hi Lucy,

Good thread!

Maybe too late for this time, but maybe you could pipe up about using vouchers to go out? Zizzi/Pizza Ex do deals 2 for £12? WE have a similar situation, 6 of us in the office do lunches and £10 towards b'day present per head - but recently we started using vouchers and everyone's happy. MAybe when it;s your birthday you could start the tradition? Make a joke about recession etc

good luck